We're into the second week of our special Shrig Shop pop-up, and I thought it might be interesting to share why this means so much to me, and to help you get to know the mind behind the art. For me, the story of David Shrigley and Paper Tiger is one of a decades-long relationship, rooted in a shared philosophy: "art is for everyone.”

My memory places my discovery of Shrigley’s work in the mid-90s. Though I can’t quite recall my first encounter, my love for his work was secured in 1996, at an exhibition at Inverleith House in the Royal Botanic Garden here in Edinburgh. It was a group show, but in my mind's eye I can only remember his art filling the space. It was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with his work.

From that point on, I have been endlessly impressed by his power to bridge the gap between high art and everyday life. While Shrigley - Turner Prize nominee, OBE, 197cm tall, the creator of the monumental ‘Really Good’ thumbs-up sculpture that stood on Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth - is a globally recognised artist, his work has always been wonderfully accessible. This is also reflected in the opening of his own shop, Shrig Shop in Copenhagen, which makes his artwork available beyond the gallery space. He also likes pens and rulers, so I have a strong sense of stationery based kinship.

It's this accessibility that has always felt so perfectly aligned with Paper Tiger. It's why I was thrilled to put his early publications from Redstone Press on our shelves. More recently, we’ve proudly sold the fine stationery from Brainbox Candy for many years. The new Shrig Shop pop up adds another dimension to this history, bringing a special collection of unique, high quality pieces to our customers.

Shrigley’s art is instantly identifiable. He is best known for his distinctive drawing style, creating crudely composed and humorous cartoons, illustrations and paintings, characterised by a deliberately crude quality, wilfully featuring scribbles, crossings out and spelling mistakes. It looks raw, unfinished, unpracticed, a sketched aesthetic that is his artistic choice. I love it. I love the intent in the supposedly unintentional. The scribbles, crossings out, and misspellings are all a conscious artistic choice. It’s a raw and immediate aesthetic that allows his sharp wit and profound observations to stand out, making you look and making you read. To my eyes - and to thousands of Paper Tiger customers - they also look great on cards and stationery!

I’m personally thrilled to bring this collection to you. Come and visit our Stafford Street Paper Tiger shop this summer, explore the unique world of David Shrigley, and find a piece of art that speaks to you.